Samsung Galaxy Watch Active: Everything you need to know!

Samsung is one of the unequivocal leaders in regards to Android-compatible smartwatches, and while the Galaxy Watch Active may not be its most powerful or feature-rich option, it is one of the best values we've ever seen from the company.

The Galaxy Watch Active is essentially a smaller, more affordable version of 2018's Galaxy Watch, and if you have $200 to spend on a new wearable, it deserves to be at the very top of your shortlist.

Does it all

For $200, it's tough to do much better than the Galaxy Watch Active. On one hand, it's a powerful smartwatch with growing app support and intuitive notification handling. On the other, it's fitness tracker with advanced features such as GPS and waterproofing.

It's really lightweight and good for small wrists

A lot of Samsung's previous smartwatches have been inaccessible for many potential customers due to their large, bulky designs. With the Galaxy Watch Active, that's a non-issue.

The Galaxy Watch Active measures in at just 39.5 x 39.5 x 10.5mm with a weight of 25g. For comparison's sake, the regular Galaxy Watch (the 42mm model) is 41.9 x 45.7 x 12.7mm and weighs 49g. So yeah, quite a big difference.

Petite designs aren't something we see as often as we should in the smartwatch space, so having that aspect present on the Galaxy Watch Active is fantastic.

Samsung's fitness/health features are better than ever

Like you might guess with the name of Samsung Galaxy Watch Active, a big focus of this gadget is to help you get and stay in shape.

The Galaxy Watch Active keeps tabs of your all-day activity, such as steps, floors climbed, calories burned, and how far you've walked in a given day. It also has built-in sleep tracking that can analyze your various sleep stages throughout the night and reminders to move and meditate throughout the day.

Other fitness features we love are the included heart-rate monitor, IP68 waterproofing, and built-in GPS that enables you to map your runs without having to take your phone with you.

Here are the specs

Curious as to what makes the Galaxy Watch Active tick? Samsung outfitted it with a wide array of interesting specs, including things like 4GB for storing your apps and local songs, IP68 waterproofing to keep it safe during swim sessions, and a lot more.

The full specs list is as follows.

Cateogry

Galaxy Watch Active

Display

1.1-inch 360x360 AMOLED Gorilla Glass

Battery

230mAh

Storage

4GB

GPS

✔️

NFC

✔️

Heart rate

✔️

Resistance

IP68, 5ATMMIL-STD-810G

Band size

20 mm

Case material

Aluminum

Dimensions

39.5 x 39.5 x 10.5 mm25 g (w/o strap)

How does it compare to Samsung's other wearables?

As great as the Galaxy Watch Active is, it's far from the only smart wearable in Samsung's lineup.

The Galaxy Watch and Gear Fit2 Pro are still both really good here in 2019, making it a difficult choice to decide if you should just go ahead and get the Active or give some consideration to Samsung's other options.

Below, you'll find comparisons to both the Galaxy Watch and Gear Fit2 Pro to help make your decision a bit easier.

What about other smartwatches?

In addition to the smartwatches/bands Samsung's creating, the Galaxy Watch Active is also going up against a heap of devices from other OEMs in the tech space.

The Galaxy Watch Active is going up against some really tough competition, such as the Fitbit Versa, Fossil Sport, and more.

It holds its own against these competitors incredibly well, and even if you're liking what you're seeing with the Galaxy Watch Active, it's worth giving our comparisons a read just to be absolutely certain you're buying the smartwatch that best suits all of your needs.

These are the best accessories you can get for it

The Galaxy Watch Active is really great on its own, but if you want to make your experience even better, we recommend buying a few accessories to go with it. Specifically, watch bands and screen protectors.

You can use any 20mm watch band with the Galaxy Watch Active, allowing you to change up its entire look in the blink of an eye. Samsung includes a standard silicone sport band that does a good job at getting you started, but we highly recommend getting a couple of other options so you can switch up your look whenever you want.

Along with that, a screen protector will help to ensure that the Watch Active's display doesn't get damaged throughout daily use. It's not as fun a new watch band, but it's crucial if you plan on wearing this thing every single day.

Does it all

For $200, it's tough to do much better than the Galaxy Watch Active. On one hand, it's a powerful smartwatch with growing app support and intuitive notification handling. On the other, it's fitness tracker with advanced features such as GPS and waterproofing.

Joe Maring

Joe is Android Central's News Editor and has had a love for anything with a screen and CPU since he can remember. He's been talking/writing about Android in one form or another since 2012, and often does so while camping out at the nearest coffee shop. Have a tip? Send an email to joe.maring@mobilenations.com!